This experiment was conducted to evaluate genetic variation in 48 rice accessions (Oryza sativa L.) using AFLP and RAPD markers. For AFLP, a total of 928 bands were generated with 11 primer combinations and 327 bands (35.2%) of them were polymorphic among 48 accessions. In RAPD analyses using 22 random primers 145 bands were produced, and 121 (83.4%) were polymorphic among 48 accessions. Each accession revealed a distinct fingerprint by two DNA marker systems. Cluster analysis using AFLP-based genetic similarity tended to classify rice cultivars into different groups corresponding to their varietal types and breeding pedigrees, but not using RAPD-based genetic similarity. The AFLP marker system was more sensitive than RAPD in fingerprinting of rice cultivars with narrow genetic diversity.